Planning commission reviews solar, underground ordinance

The Glencoe planning commission continued discussions on two new city ordinances — one on solar power and one on underground utilities — at a regular meeting Thursday night.
Underground
Public Works Director Gary Schreifels and Light and Power Commission Dave Meyer presented a right-of-way and under grounding ordinance for utilities to the commission.
Meyer explained the ordinance was developed after the city saw reluctance from utility companies to work with the city’s efforts to put utilities underground. The copy the two presented is a simple ordinance that states companies need to follow the city when they move utilities underground.
Meyer said underground utilities are a reliable and aesthetically pleasing option for utilities. The high quality of the pipe used means maintenance is not an issue.
The ordinance includes penalties for companies that do not comply. The penalties will be up to the City Council.
Commissioner Lynn Exsted asked for clarification on the penalty section and the maximum delay before penalties apply. Meyer agreed the wording could be better in that area and said he would rework it to be clearer.
The city would like to have the ordinance ready and in place by the 2016 construction season.

For more from the meeting, see the Dec. 16 print edition of The Chronicle.